Flight conveyer



H. W. HAPMAN FLIGHT CONVEYER Sept. 2, 1952 Filed Feb. V8. 1950 Bnventor PIl//m (Ittornegs Patented Sept. 2, 1952 FLIGHT ooNvEvEn` Henry W. Hapman, Detroit, Mich., assignor of forty per cent to Hannah Jane Hapman, De-

troit, Mich.

Application February 8, 1950, Serial No. 143,118

3 Claims.

This invention relates to conveyors and, in particular, to flight conveyors.

One object of this invention is to provide a flight conveyor which is substantially free from any flat surfaces, recesses or crevices in which the conveyed materials might lodge or to which they l might adhere, such a conveyor being especially useful for conveying food and chemical products.

Another object is to provide a flight conveyor having disc nights mounted on a flexible elongated tubular member Within which is a load-carrying chain, all arranged in such a manner that the chain is completely isolated from the exterior of the conveyor so that none of the conveyed material can penetrate to the chain.

Another object is to provide a flight conveyor` of the foregoing character wherein the flexible tubular member containing the chain also contains lubricant for lubricating the links of the chain so that it performs its load-transmitting functions with the minimum of noise and wear, and at the least expenditure of power.

Another objectris to provide a flight conveyor of the foregoing character wherein the links of the chain are slightly greater in diameter than the diameter of the bore in the tubular member, with the result that the links cause the tubular member to bulge and thereby prevent the flights from sliding along the tubular member by securely anchoring them in place.

Another object is to provide a flight conveyor of the foregoing character wherein theflights are spaced apart from one Aanother along the flexible tubular member by flexible tubular spacers which are preferably assembled in a state of compression so as to automatically maintain their spacing and sealing functions even though the tubular member should stretch somewhat during use.

Another object is to provide a flight conveyor of the foregoing character wherein the disc flights are provided with countersinks lor counterbores for receiving the ends of the tubular spacers,-

thereby preventing the formation of a recess for the lodgment of conveyed materials.

Another object is to provide a flight conveyor of the foregoing character 'wherein the adjacent ends of the load-transmitting chain are connected to coupling halves which are secured to onel another, preferably With a resilient gasket between them so as to prevent the conveyed material from entering the space between the coupling halves and also to prevent lubricant from escaping out of the interior of the flexible tubular member, the gasket being optionally in the form of a disc or ring with its periphery extending outward beyond the coupling halves so as to serve as a Wiper.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, mainly in central longitudinal vertical section, of a portion of a flight conveyor according to one form of the present invention showing the distortion of the flexible tubular member and spacers after the loadtransmitting chain has been installed;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the right-hand portion of the flight conveyor shown in Figure l, before the load-transmitting chain has been installed,- and hence before the flexible tubular member and spacers have been distorted by it;

Figure 3 is a cross-section taken along the line 3--3 in Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a side elevation, partly in central longitudinal section, of one of the disc flights used in the flight conveyor of Figures l to 3 inclusive.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Figures 1 and 3 show a flight conveyor, generally designated I0, according to one form of the invention as consisting generally of a flexible tubular member II containing a load-transmitting chain I2 and carrying disc flights I3 spaced apart from one another along the tubular member I I by flexible tubular spacers I4. The tubular member II is preferably of elastic deformable material, such as synthetic or natural rubber or a mixture thereof, preferably having reinforcing cords or fabric molded therein (not shown). The flexible tubular member II is preferably of a relatively hard rubber or synthetic rubber so that it cannot be compressed very much. The tubular spacers I4, on the other hand, are preferably of very exible rubber or synthetic rubber which renders them capable of considerable compression.

The flights I3 have central bores I5, the opposite ends of which terminate in enlarged counterbores I6 (Figure 4). The bore I5 is of substantially the outer .diameter of the tubular member II, whereas the counterbores I6 are of substantially the same diameters asfthe outer diameter of the tubular spacers I4 so as to make a tight junction therebetween which will prevent the formation of crevices in which particles of the conveyed material can lodge. The flights I3 are preferably tapered as at II so that their central portions I8 are thicker than their peripheral portions IS. The flights I3 are also of relatively hard rubber sulcient to stand the pull exerted upon them when the conveyor I is driven by V-pulleys or the like, yet flexible enough to adapt themselves to passing around such pulleys or to traversing sharp bends in the conveyor conduit 20 (indicated by dotted lines) in which the flight conveyor I@ is mounted. The conduit 20, the details of which are beyond the. scope of the present invention, has a bore orinner surface 2I of slightly larger diameter than the diameter of the flights I3.

The load-transmitting chain I2 is of any suitable type, preferably of the so-called coil-chain type with interconnected links 22, the cross diameters of which are slightly greater than the diameter of the inner surface or bore 23.0f the elongated tubular member II (Figure 3). The end links 22 of the chain I2 are connected to members 24, such as taper pins inserted in tapered bores 25 in the hubs 26 of couplinghalves 27 which are connected toone another by suitable fasteners 28 having a discor ring-like gasket 29 inserted therebetween, the, assembly as a' unit forming a coupling, generally designated 30. Each coupling half 2'I has a counterbore SI inv its hub portion 26 of a sufficient diameter to receive both the tubular member I I andthe tubular spacer Hl superimposed upon it. The coupling halves 2'! are bored as at 32 and 33 t0 receive the fasteners E8, the bores 33 being preferably threaded. The

fasteners 28 are preferably of'sucha type as to have all portions flushl with the surfacesV of the coupling halves 21 so as to -form nocrevicesfor the lodgment of particlesY ofthe conveyed`gmaterial, the slots in the screws or sockets in the hcad less set screws, if used, being illled'in with a suitable illler to prevent the formation of such crevices. The gasket 29 is preferably of a larger diameter than the coupling halves 2l and flights I3 so as to have a projecting peripheral portion 32 which will engage the inner wall or bore 2E of the conveyor conduit 20 and serve as a wiper. The gasket 29 is preferably formedfrom elastic deiormable material, such as rubber or synthetic rubber, and the opposing faces 35 and 35 of the coupling halves 2l are also preferably flat for eflicient engagement with the gasket 29.

In assembling the flight conveyor I@ of vthe invention, the flights I3' alternating with their spacers ifi are mounted upon' the tubular member li in a manner analogous to Stringing beads or spacers upon a cord orc'nain. rIhe rubber spacers i4 are of such length that the=combined length of the spacers and the flights exceeds the total length of the tubular Amember il; As la consequence, the spacers ifil are assembled in a state of compression. When, however, the spacers i4 and flights I3 have been assembled on the tubular member H in the manner shown in Figure 2, the coil chain I2, which has been previously coated with oil borgrease, is pulled throughthe slightly smaller diameter bore 23 of the tubular member 4I I, distorting it as this proceeds in the manner shownin Figure l. If the flight conveyor; Ill isfassembled in straight lengths, one end of the chain l2 is secured to a coupling half at oney end bypassing a tapered pin 24 through one of the lengthsv 22 (Figure 1) The chain is then pulled through the tubular member II and the spacers I4 andl therflights I3 pushed backward along thetubular member II so as to compress the spacers I4 to the desired extent. When this has been accomplished, the tapered pin 24 at the other end of the tubular member I I is inserted through the nearest link 22 of the chain I2, and surplus links are cut oil.

The lubricant with which the chain I2 has been coated remains inside the bore 23 of the tubular member II and permanently lubricates the chain I2. The bulges brought about by pulling the chain I2 through the tubular member II firmly anchor the flights I3 in position and prevent them from sliding longitudinally lengths of the conveyor (or the single length thereof, if it is so made) are united to other Alengths or to the opposite free end of the same lconveyor length by uniting the respective coupling halves 21 with a gasket 29 placed in between the opposing surfaces and 36. When the fasteners 28 are tightened, the compression of the gasket 29 eliminates all possibility of leakage either into or out of the interior of the conveyor and effectively seals the conveyor. The clearance between each flight I3 and the tubular member l l is so small that the pulling of the chain through the tubular member Il produces bulges of sufficient height or diameter to lock the flights I3 in position.

In the operation of the conveyor Ii, the flights I3 'are driven by V-pulleys or other suitable arrangements but the actual load is carried by the chains I2 and coupling or' couplings 3i). As the conveyor traverses its' path within the conveyor conduit 2B, the peripheral portion 34 of A'thel gasket 29 serves' as a wiper to wipe the conveyed materials off the inner surface or in ternal bore 2i. If, during the life of the conveyor, stretching of the tubular member II does take place as a result of its being overstressed, one of the taper pins 24 can be removed from one of the coupling halves 2l, the stretch taken up by pulling up on the chain, and the taper pin 24 reinserted in a new link 22, the excess links being then cut off.

What I claim is:

l. A flight conveyor comprising an elongated tubular member of elastic deformable material, a plurality of disc flights mounted on said tubular member in spaced relationship and in sealed engagement therewith, and an elongated interlocking link chain disposed within said tubular member, the links of said interlocking link chain having cross-diameters exceeding the internal diameter of the bore .of said tubular member and exteriorly deforming said tubular member with bulges locking said flights in their spaced positions upon said tubular member.

2. A flight conveyor comprising an elongated tubular member. of elastic deformable material, a plurality of disc y flights mounted on said tubular member in spaced relationship and in sealed engagement therewith,- anI elongated interlocking link chaindisposed within said tubular member, and tubular spacers' disposed between said flights, the links of said interlocking link chain having cross-diameters exceeding the internal diameter of the bore of said tubular member and exteriorly deforming said tubular meinber with bulges locking said flights in their spaced positions upon said tubular member.

3. Alliglit conveyor comprising an' elongated tubular member of elastic deformable material, a plurality of disc flights mounted on said tubularv member in spaced relationship and in sealed engagementl therewith, an elongated in- 6 REFERENCES CITED The followingreferences are of record 'inthe le o1' this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Shaw Apr. 11, 1882 Bixby Mar. 12, 1907 Whitlock Oct. 5, 1.909 Manoog Feb. 14, 1911 Redler Aug." 14, 1,934 Ranney May v 2, 1939 Hapman Aug. 10, 1943 

